Charles
Dickens
Museum
178
Letter of Florian Schweizer
21 October2010
Dear Fellow-Dickensian
Imagine a situation in which the Charles Dickens Museum cannot afford to
repair leaks in the roof of Dickens's former home. Or where there is not
enough money to protect our internationally important collections at 48
Doughty Street from environmental damage or vandalism. Think of the
wasted opportunity if we cannot afford to prepare the Museum for 2012, in
time for the 200th anniversary of Dickens's birth. These are not just
imagined scenarios. As a charity we simply cannot fund all of the vital
conservation work that protects and cares for Dickens House, or to promote
Dickens as he deserves. Admission fees from visitors only cover our
operating costs in order to develop the Museum and unlock its enormous
potential we depend upon donations. Which is why I am writing to you
now. As a member of the Dickens Fellowship you are someone who values
Dickens's great literary and social heritage. You may already be a Friend of
the Museum, in which case I thank you sincerely for your past support. But
1 hope that all Dickens enthusiasts can give a little extra support to our
Great Expectations appeal, and make a gift today. I have enclosed a
brochure that outlines the work that we need to carry Out to enable us to
continue to run the Museum in the future, fulfilling the charitable objectives
the Dickens Fellowship set in 1925 when the Museum was first opened. The
house at 48 Doughty Street has the opportunity to become the best literary
